The Citizen, 2003-07-30, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2003.
Regulations
Learning from living
Steeve Genest of Quebec, second from right, has spent
the summer with the Deitner family of Grey in an effort to
improve his English. Kevin and Alicia Deitner’s children
Morgan, Tyler and Tiffany (clockwise from bottom) have
kept Genest very busy learning new English words. (Janice
Becker photo)
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
success with the
or possibly the
to an English
It all began as a wonderful idea to
become bilingual, but became a
short summer visit with a Grey
family.
When 17-year-old Steeve Genest
of Quebec planned for his future in
the police force, he saw bilingualism
as imperative for
Quebec agency
RCMP.
With access
language school denied in his home
province because both his parents
are French, Genest thought he could
enroll in an Ontario high school for
his final years of studies, through
acquaintances in Grey.
Genest’s mother is friends with
Teresa, the daughter of Judy Jones, a
Grey resident and Quebec native.
Arrangements were made for Genest
to visit her for fhe summer while
making arrangements to attend a
local high school.
However, they soon discovered
that without a parent or legal
guardian as an Ontario resident,
Genest would have to pay more than
$7,000 to finish high school in the
province. He also learned that if he
Legion members do fish fry
By Jo-Ann McDonald
The Friday night supper of
Salisbury steak at Brussels Legion
was enjoyed by all. This week there
is no supper.
Saturday there were nine Branch
members travelling to Mitchell
stonewall Quebec
stayed out of school for a year in
Quebec, he would also have to pay
to finish there.
So in spite of f aerous setbacks
to what seemed lixc a good plan for
advancing his education, Genest will
be returning home at the end of
Augus; tn finish school. However,
his stay in Ontario has been a
learning experience.
After staying for a short time with
Jones, Genest missed the active
family life he had been accustomed
to at home, having four brothers and
four sisters. Jones also spoke French
most of the time, which was not
helping Genest learn English.
Prior to Genest beginning to work
on the farm of Kevin and Alicia
Deitner and spending days with the
family of five, Jones had asked
several months ago e Deitners
would consider housing the youth
through the school year. Genest
asked if he could room with the
family, both for the companionship
and the increased exposure to
English. It was only later that he
learning his school plans were
scuttled.
Arrangements were made and
Genest soon had two surrogate
sisters and one brother to keep him
Legion Branch to fry fish for over
360 hungry fish lovers. Reports are
that Lisa, Mabel and Lloyd
Glanville, Dale Sauve, Pete Excl,
Murray Lowe, Anne Exel, Norm
Dobson and Rick McDonald did an
excellent job.
entertained.
“I have learned more here for a
summer than in all of years in
school,” said Genest in halting
English.
Though he studied English in
school, the teachers are not bilingual
and speaking the language is very
different.
The Deitners also found this when
a relative, from Ontario, who
attended a French language school
sent a fax to Genest. He found it very
different from the French used in
Quebec.
“His English is improving
though,” said Alicia, laughing at the
influence of her young children and
television shows such as The
Simpsons.
Deitner said Genest asks a lot of
questions, which is good, but they
Info and general inquiries
at 887-6562 or 887-6570
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Euchre Tournament downstairs at
1:00 p.m. Cash prizes.
Admission $5.00 per person.
Bring your own partner. Lunch.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
Euchre Tournament downstairs at
1:00 p.m. Cash prizes.
Admission $5.00 per person.
Bring your own partner. Lunch.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
Euchre Tournament downstairs at
1:00 p.m. Cash prizes.
Admission $5.00 per person.
Bring your own partner. Lunch.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
No dance.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17
Singles Dance from 7:00 to 11:00 pm
Admission $8.00 per person.
To be announced.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
Singles Dance from 7:00 to 11:00 pm
Admission $8.00 per person.
Enjoy the music of "Country Motion"
on August 6
Time f
346 Huron Road, Goderich 524-9381 or 1-800-338-1134
The next paper will be out as usual on August 13.
COMING EVENTS
at the
BRUSSELS LEGION
student
are sometimes hard to answer. “Try
explaining ‘still’ or ‘yet’.”
She said it has also been a good
experience for her children as they
have had to think about the words
they use.
Aside from his educational
experience, Genest said he is
enjoying his stay with the Deitners
though he misses some of the
extreme sports such as skydiving he
takes part in at home.
“It is a lot of fun jumping out at
20,000 feet and falling at 500 mph,”
he smiled.
Genest’s mother is currently trying
to secure a job in the Armed Forces
which will enable Steeve to attend
an English school. If it doesn’t
happen, Genest still seems
determined to become fluent and
achieve his goals.
FROM BRUSSELS
Don’t lose this number!
524-9381
West Nile virus: Camping.
Wear mosquito netting, long sleeves and long pants in heavily wooded areas. Use bug
repellent containing DEET and avoid mosquito areas from dusk through dawn when
they’re most active. Make sure your tent or cabin can keep the bugs out.
To learn more, call or visit our Web site.
1-877-234-4343 TTY 1-800-387-5559 www.HealthyOntario.com
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